Catch all 26 episodes from the gripping fifth season of this spin-off from the "Star Trek" universe, in which steadfast Capt. Janeway (Kate Mulgrew) must deal with her crew's ennui as they navigate through a void in space where no star systems or galaxies exist.

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The greatest share of the best episodes in the series appear in Season 5. This season moves away from encounters with alien civilizations and toward smaller scale personal encounters. Some of the best episodes barely leave the ship. Rest assured, big ideas are explored, but in a smaller and more personal way.

The Best Episodes of Season 5

Episode 2 – Drone - The human side of Seven gets developed in a story arc that begins here, where she and the Doctor are inadvertently involved in the creation of a new life. Seven experiences a type of motherhood in the course of an accelerated process of maturation for a highly evolved hybrid being. “You will adapt” is the key line and lesson.

Episode 5 – Once Upon a Time – The fifth of my Voyager Top Ten. This episode introduces Scarlett Pomers as the adorable Naomi Wildman, the first child born on Voyager. And wow can she act. Originally cast for a single episode, Pomers was so good she was written into an additional six episodes. Her lines and scenes drive the best parts of the plot. Also, the holodeck is used for telling children’s stories and teaching lessons in an imaginative way. Subtle bits of dialog within the holo-program experience hint at remarkably clever features.

Episode 8 – Nothing Human – An intense plot that plays out the question: do the ends justify the means? Medical techniques necessary to save lives were obtained only through brutal experiments on unwilling subjects. Decades later, does it matter? Who has the right to weigh in on the question? A very thoughtful and thorough treatment of the idea.

Episode 12 – Bride of Chaotica - The sixth of my Voyager Top Ten. A beautiful homage to early science fiction television programming. You can tell a lot of effort went into producing this episode. There are so many fun little things that it’s hard to know where to start. The plot really doesn’t matter. It’s all about the early sci-fi features. The black and white presentation, overdramatic acting, sinister music, archaic dialog, feeble special effects, rudimentary ops panels, the list is endless.

Episode 22 – Someone to Watch Over Me - The seventh of my Voyager Top Ten. There are a lot of love stories in this series that really don’t ring true (Neelix/Tess, Tom/Tess, Tom/B’Elanna, and Chakotay/every female character) but this one does. It’s not a traditional love story, but why would it be? This is Voyager. There is an amusing premise here (which you have adopted yourself if you have watched this far into the series) that the Doctor is more “dimensional” than Seven as a person. A photonic image has something to offer about us what it means to be human.

Worst of Season 5

Episode 6 – TimelessAn odd choice to pair Chakotay and Harry when other combinations (B’Elanna and Chakotay, Harry and Tom) would have made more sense. No explanation of the terms of the temporal prime directive or how Starfleet has organized a police force for enforcing it. (Time cop is a sad fate for Jordi LaForge.) If you know your friends died, what satisfaction is there is saving a different timeline from the same fate? And why would you expect other timelines to repeat the history of your own timeline?

Episode 18 – Course OblivionI just don’t understand the point to this episode. The story itself drives off your interest in the characters. The plot advances like air being let out of a balloon, including the pffft climax. Pointlessness is not an interesting story idea.

Episode 25 – WarheadBest example of Roger Ebert’s “idiot plot” defect. An “idiot plot” is any plot containing problems that would be solved instantly if all of the characters were not idiots. Sure, let’s keep a dangerous bomb that we don’t understand and is already broken in sick bay while we poke around. What could go wrong?

I've been binge watching through all seasons of Star Trek Voyager for a few months. In general, I like STVOY. But it seems like season 5 is nothing new. Each episode is a new crisis and if it is a one parter, the episode ends with Janeway saying "set a course for the alpha quadrant". The same themes and arcs just reoccur over and over. The contrast between Neelix and Tuvok, the relationship between B'alana and Tom, the sexual tension between Janeway and Chakotay, the friendahip between Naomi and Seven. Etc... Each episode has a formula, either they are running out of something and need to find it or they come across a new planet or species and have to explore. And I wish I had a buck for every time they have run across someone in need, stop and help only to get screwed! Even though Chakotay or Tuvok warns the captain it may be a trap. Ha. But even for all that, I'm hooked. I like the series and I'm going to watch it through to see what happens in the final season.

This is one slippery bunch the trouble they get in never sticks... Guess that is what makes it fun. maybe there is a reason for the ship withstanding all punishment. I know it is because with out the ship there would be no show. it is amazing how the relationships of the crew last, they do not even have to forgive they just tough it out and let the Delta Quadrant take care of them... sure seems they miss a few steps to their emotional processes, OK it is not real or even pretending to be real but really good si fi has to make some sense.

I have been a big fan of Star Trek ever since I was a kid. I have followed the show's many incarnations throughout the years, and I like them all pretty much. But I would have to say that Star Trek Voyager is my absolute favorite out of all the series. I love each and every character in this show so much that they almost feel like family to me.

I also enjoy the special effects, and set designs, ship designs, costume designs, and aliens...I just adore everything about this show. Many times during my viewings of episodes I will find myself pausing, and rewinding to get a better look at something in the frame. The people who worked hard to make this show a reality really outdid themselves in every aspect. It is just a beautiful and well-detailed show.

The episodes stories are all very interesting as well. Especially the ones involving 7 of 9, played by Jeri Ryan. She really helped to pump new life into this series. Season 5 is another great addition to the series, actually, up to this point it is my favorite season so far, and I cannot recommend it enough to both Star Trek and science fiction fans alike.

Overall, season five of "Star Trek: Voyager" offers a very good batch of episodes. Even the few shows that are a little clunky at least have some interesting ideas being explored. But mostly you get intense, engaging episodes with top-notch special effects. Quick shout-outs go to the creepy "Night", the very amusing "Bride of Chaotica!", and the gritty Borg two-parter, "Dark Frontier".

And there's a great season closer, "Equinox, Part One", where the stranded Voyager crew meets up with another lost Starfleet vessel, one whose captain and crew are willing to cross quite a few lines to find a way to get back home, lines Captain Janeway and her crew would never cross, or at least haven't yet. This look at what Voyager and her crew members could have themselves become- or might yet become?- is quite compelling, and results in a darn fine episode (though you'll have to buy season six to see how it ends). And it's only one of many fine episodes.

The DVD set of the fifth season of "Star Trek: Voyager" includes the usual generous special features, and quality picture and sound. And Paramount finally dropped the price of this and other "Trek" boxed sets down into the "reasonably priced" realm. Get 'em while they're still there!